Connection system for establishing an electrical connection through a drape and methods thereof

ABSTRACT

A connection system includes a first connector and a second connector configured for establishing one or more electrical connections through a drape. The first connector can include an alignment protrusion and a first piercing element having one or more electrical contacts configured to pierce the drape. The second connector can include an alignment notch, a channel, and a first receptacle configured to receive the first piercing element when inserted therein. The alignment notch can be configured to accept the alignment protrusion when the first connector is aligned with the second connector then disposed over the second connector. The channel can be configured to allow the alignment protrusion to slide along a length of the second connector. The first receptacle can have one or more electrical contacts configured to form at least a first electrical connection of the one or more electrical connections with the first connector.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/623,394, filed Jan. 29, 2018, titled “Systems forBreaching a Sterile Barrier for a Medical Device Placement System,”which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into thisapplication.

BACKGROUND

In a typical surgical procedure, a sterile drape is placed over apatient to establish a sterile field, within which the surgicalprocedure is performed. For example, in a typical catheter-placementprocedure, a sterile drape is placed over a patient to establish asterile field for placement of the catheter. However, there is often aneed to breach the sterile barrier in order to make electricalconnections between components of various systems without compromisingthe sterility of the sterile field. Disclosed herein is a connectionsystem for establishing an electrical connection through a drape andmethods thereof that address at least the foregoing need.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a connection system including, in some embodiments,a first connector and a second connector configured for establishing oneor more electrical connections through a drape. The first connectorincludes an alignment protrusion and a first piercing element configuredto pierce the drape. The first piercing element has one or moreelectrical contacts. The second connector includes an alignment notch, achannel, and a first receptacle configured to receive the first piercingelement when inserted therein. The alignment notch is configured toaccept the alignment protrusion when the first connector is aligned withthe second connector then inserted into the second connector. Thechannel, which is along a length of the second connector, is configuredto allow the alignment protrusion to slide along the channel. The firstreceptacle has one or more electrical contacts configured to form atleast a first electrical connection of the one or more electricalconnections with the first connector when the first piercing element isinserted in the first receptacle.

In some embodiments, the first piercing element is a jack plug and thefirst receptacle is a jack. The jack plug has a needle-like tipelectrical contact, one or more ring electrical contacts, and a sleeveelectrical contact. The jack has complementary electrical contacts.

In some embodiments, the first piercing element is a blade-like endportion of a printed circuit board having the one or more electricalcontacts thereon, and the first receptacle is a slot havingcomplementary electrical contacts.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes a sealconfigured as a sticker disposed within the first connector around aproximal-end portion of the piercing element. The sticker is configuredto adhere to the drape about a piercing thereof. The sticker isconfigured to selectively pull away from the first connector when thefirst connector and the second connector are disconnected, therebysealing the drape.

In some embodiments, the seal is a self-sealing polymer septum.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes a secondpiercing element of the first connector and a second receptacle of thesecond connector, each of which includes one or more electricalcontacts. The second piercing element is configured to pierce the drapein a location different than the first piercing element. The secondreceptacle is configured to form at least a second electrical connectionof the one or more electrical connections when the second piercingelement is inserted in the second receptacle.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes a thirdpiercing element of the first connector and a third receptacle of thesecond connector, each of which includes one or more electricalcontacts. The third piercing element is configured to pierce the drapein a location different than the first and second piercing elements. Thethird receptacle is configured to form at least a third electricalconnection of the one or more electrical connections when the thirdpiercing element is inserted in the third receptacle.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes a sealconfigured as a sticker disposed within the first connector aroundproximal-end portions of the piercing elements. The sticker isconfigured to adhere to the drape about piercings thereof. The stickeris configured to selectively pull away from the first connector when thefirst connector and the second connector are disconnected, therebysealing the drape.

In some embodiments, the seal is a self-sealing polymer septum.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes alight-emitting diode (“LED”) on the first connector configured to changefrom a first state to a second state to indicate success in forming theone or more electrical connections.

In some embodiments, the LED is configured to change from the firststate to the second state upon completion of a dedicated LED circuitwhen forming the one or more electrical connections.

In some embodiments, the first connector includes a pair of finger padsabout a distal-end portion of the first connector configured for pushingor pulling the first connector along the channel of the secondconnector.

In some embodiments, the alignment protrusion of the first connector andthe alignment notch and channel of the second connector are parts of aone-handed mechanism by which the first connector and the secondconnector are connected to form the one or more electrical connections.The one-handed mechanism is configured to tighten the drape between thefirst connector and the second connector without bunching the drape.

In some embodiments, the first connector is transparent, which allows aconnection between the first connector and the second connector by wayof the one-handed mechanism to be viewed.

Also disclosed herein is a connection system including, in someembodiments, a tether connector and a fin connector configured forestablishing one or more electrical connections through a drape. Thetether connector is coupled to a stylet configured to be removablydisposed in a catheter. The tether connector includes a pair ofalignment protrusions and a piercing element configured to pierce thedrape from a sterile side of the drape. The pair of alignmentprotrusions are within a distal-end portion of the tether connector. Thepiercing element has one or more electrical contacts. The fin connectoris part of a tip-location sensor configured to sense a location of a tipof the catheter in a patient. The fin connector has a pair of alignmentnotches, a pair of channels, and a receptacle configured to receive thepiercing element when inserted therein. The pair of alignment notchesare in a medial portion of the fin connector. The pair of alignmentnotches are configured to accept the pair of alignment protrusions whenthe tether connector is aligned with the fin connector then insertedinto the fin connector. The pair of channels, which are along a lengthof the fin connector, are configured to allow the pair of alignmentprotrusions to slide along the pair of channels with the drape betweenthe pair of alignment protrusions and the pair of channels. The pair ofalignment protrusions of the tether connector and the pair of alignmentnotches and channels are parts of a one-handed drape-tighteningmechanism by which the tether connector and the fin connector areconnected to form the one or more electrical connections. The receptaclehas one or more electrical contacts configured to form one or moreelectrical connections with the one or more electrical contacts of thetether connector when the piercing element is inserted in thereceptacle.

In some embodiments, the piercing element is a jack plug and thereceptacle is a jack. The jack plug has a needle-like tip electricalcontact, one or more ring electrical contacts, and a sleeve electricalcontact. The jack has complementary electrical contacts.

In some embodiments, the piercing element is a blade-like end portion ofa printed circuit board having the one or more electrical contactsthereon, and the receptacle is a slot having complementary electricalcontacts.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes aself-sealing polymer septum configured as a sticker disposed within thetether connector around a proximal-end portion of the piercing element.The sticker is configured to adhere to the drape about a piercingthereof. The sticker is configured to selectively pull away from thetether connector when the tether connector and the fin connector aredisconnected, thereby sealing the drape.

In some embodiments, the connection system further includes an LED onthe tether connector and a dedicated LED circuit. The LED is configuredto change from a first state to a second state upon completion of thededicated LED circuit when forming the one or more electricalconnections, thereby indicating success in forming the one or moreelectrical connections.

In some embodiments, the tether connector includes a pair of finger padsabout a distal-end portion of the tether connector configured forpushing or pulling the tether connector along the pair of channels ofthe fin connector.

Also disclosed herein is a method including, in some embodiments,establishing one or more electrical connections through a drape byplacing the drape over a second connector of a connection system;aligning a pair of alignment protrusions within a distal-end portion ofa first connector of the connection system with a pair of alignmentnotches in a medial portion of the second connector; disposing the firstconnector over the second connector with the drape between the firstconnector and the second connector, the drape self-tightening over thesecond connector while disposing the first connector over the secondconnector; sliding the pair of alignment protrusions of the firstconnector along a pair of channels along a length of the secondconnector with the drape between the pair of alignment protrusions andthe pair of channels; piercing a sterile side of the drape with apiercing element of the first connector, the piercing element having oneor more electrical contacts; inserting the piercing element into areceptacle of the second connector, the receptacle having one or moreelectrical contacts; and forming the one or more electrical connectionsrespectively between the one or more electrical contacts of the piercingelement and the one or more electrical contacts of the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the first connector includes a pair of finger padsabout the distal-end portion of the first connector configured forpushing or pulling the first connector with one hand when sliding thefirst connector along the second connector.

In some embodiments, the method further includes viewing the disposingof the first connector over the second connector and the sliding of thefirst connector along the second connector through the first connecter,wherein the first connector is transparent.

In some embodiments, the piercing element is a jack plug and thereceptacle is a jack. The jack plug has a needle-like tip electricalcontact, one or more ring electrical contacts, and a sleeve electricalcontact. The jack has complementary electrical contacts.

In some embodiments, the piercing element is a blade-like end portion ofa printed circuit board having the one or more electrical contactsthereon, and the receptacle is a slot having complementary electricalcontacts.

In some embodiments, the method further includes sealing the drape witha self-sealing polymer septum disposed within the first connector arounda proximal-end portion of the piercing element. The septum is configuredas a sticker to adhere to the drape about a piercing thereof.

In some embodiments, the method further includes confirming success informing the one or more electrical connections by a change from a firststate of an LED on the first connector to a second state of the LED uponforming the one or more electrical connections.

In some embodiments, the first connector is a tether connector coupledto a stylet configured to be removably disposed in a catheter, and thesecond connector is fin connector of a tip-location sensor configured tosense a location of a tip of the catheter in a patient.

These and other features of the concepts provided herein will becomemore apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the accompanyingdrawings and following description, which disclose particularembodiments of such concepts in greater detail.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a catheter-placement system forplacing a catheter in a patient's body in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates the catheter-placement system and the patient inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a stylet including a tether connector of thecatheter-placement system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a tip-location sensor including a fin connector ofthe catheter-placement system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5A illustrates a top side of a first connector of a connectionsystem in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom side of the first connector of theconnection system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6A illustrates a first piercing element in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6B illustrates a second piercing element in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6C illustrates a plurality of piercing elements in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a blade-like piercing element of a first connectorconfigured to insert into a slot-shaped receptacle of a second connectorin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of piercing elements of a first connectorconfigured to insert into a plurality of receptacles of a secondconnector in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9A illustrates a first connector including a first drape seal inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9B illustrates a cross-section of the first connector of FIG. 9Aincluding the drape seal.

FIG. 9C illustrates a second drape seal in accordance with someembodiments.

DESCRIPTION

Before some particular embodiments are disclosed in greater detail, itshould be understood that the particular embodiments disclosed herein donot limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. It should also beunderstood that a particular embodiment disclosed herein can havefeatures that can be readily separated from the particular embodimentand optionally combined with or substituted for features of any of anumber of other embodiments disclosed herein.

Regarding terms used herein, it should also be understood the terms arefor the purpose of describing some particular embodiments, and the termsdo not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Ordinal numbers(e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are generally used to distinguish oridentify different features or steps in a group of features or steps,and do not supply a serial or numerical limitation. For example,“first,” “second,” and “third” features or steps need not necessarilyappear in that order, and the particular embodiments including suchfeatures or steps need not necessarily be limited to the three featuresor steps. Labels such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,”“back,” and the like are used for convenience and are not intended toimply, for example, any particular fixed location, orientation, ordirection. Instead, such labels are used to reflect, for example,relative location, orientation, or directions. Singular forms of “a,”“an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

With respect to “proximal,” a “proximal portion” or a “proximal endportion” of, for example, a catheter disclosed herein includes a portionof the catheter intended to be near a clinician when the catheter isused on a patient. Likewise, a “proximal length” of, for example, thecatheter includes a length of the catheter intended to be near theclinician when the catheter is used on the patient. A “proximal end” of,for example, the catheter includes an end of the catheter intended to benear the clinician when the catheter is used on the patient. Theproximal portion, the proximal end portion, or the proximal length ofthe catheter can include the proximal end of the catheter; however, theproximal portion, the proximal end portion, or the proximal length ofthe catheter need not include the proximal end of the catheter. That is,unless context suggests otherwise, the proximal portion, the proximalend portion, or the proximal length of the catheter is not a terminalportion or terminal length of the catheter.

With respect to “distal,” a “distal portion” or a “distal end portion”of, for example, a catheter disclosed herein includes a portion of thecatheter intended to be near or in a patient when the catheter is usedon the patient. Likewise, a “distal length” of, for example, thecatheter includes a length of the catheter intended to be near or in thepatient when the catheter is used on the patient. A “distal end” of, forexample, the catheter includes an end of the catheter intended to benear or in the patient when the catheter is used on the patient. Thedistal portion, the distal end portion, or the distal length of thecatheter can include the distal end of the catheter; however, the distalportion, the distal end portion, or the distal length of the catheterneed not include the distal end of the catheter. That is, unless contextsuggests otherwise, the distal portion, the distal end portion, or thedistal length of the catheter is not a terminal portion or terminallength of the catheter.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skillin the art.

In a typical surgical procedure, a sterile drape is placed over apatient to establish a sterile field, within which the surgicalprocedure is performed. For example, in a typical catheter-placementprocedure, a sterile drape is placed over a patient to establish asterile field for placement of the catheter. However, there is often aneed to breach the sterile barrier in order to make electricalconnections between components of various systems without compromisingthe sterility of the sterile field. Disclosed herein is a connectionsystem for establishing an electrical connection through a drape andmethods thereof that address at least the foregoing need.

For example, a connection system is disclosed including a firstconnector and a second connector configured for establishing one or moreelectrical connections through a drape. The first connector includes analignment protrusion and a first piercing element configured to piercethe drape. The first piercing element has one or more electricalcontacts. The second connector includes an alignment notch, a channel,and a first receptacle configured to receive the first piercing elementwhen inserted therein. The alignment notch is configured to accept thealignment protrusion when the first connector is aligned with the secondconnector then inserted into the second connector. The channel, which isalong a length of the second connector, is configured to allow thealignment protrusion to slide along the channel. The first receptaclehas one or more electrical contacts configured to form at least a firstelectrical connection of the one or more electrical connections with thefirst connector when the first piercing element is inserted in the firstreceptacle.

An example catheter-placement system incorporating the connection systemwill be at least initially described to provide context for theconnection system. It should be understood the connection system is notlimited to the example catheter-placement system. Indeed, the connectionsystem can be incorporated into any system of various systems having theneed to breach a sterile barrier between components of the system inorder to make electrical connections therebetween without compromisingthe sterility of the sterile field.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a catheter-placement system 10 forplacing a catheter 72 in a body of a patient 70 in accordance with someembodiments. FIG. 2 illustrates the catheter-placement system 10 and thepatient 70 in accordance with some embodiments. The catheter-placementsystem 10 is configured for assisting a clinician in placing thecatheter 72 in a vasculature of the patient 70. As shown, thecatheter-placement system 10 includes a console 20 including a display30, an ultrasound probe 40, and a tip-location sensor 50 configured forplacement on the patient's chest or some other portion of the patient'sbody.

FIG. 3 illustrates a stylet 130 including a tether connector 132 of thecatheter-placement system 10 in accordance with some embodiments. Thestylet 130 is employed with the catheter 72 during insertion of thecatheter 72 into the vasculature of the patient 70. The stylet 130includes a core wire 138 configured to be removably disposed in a lumenof the catheter 72 during a catheter-placement procedure, therebyenabling a distal tip 76 of the catheter 72 to be tracked by thecatheter-placement system 10 using one or more of modalities for guidingthe catheter 72 to a desired location within the patient's vasculatureafter insertion of the catheter 72 into a percutaneous insertion site 73of the patient 70. The one or more modalities include, but are notlimited to ultrasound-based imaging of subcutaneous tissue of thepatient in preparation for insertion of the catheter 72; magnet-basedtracking for determining orientation, advancement direction, and generalinternal location of the distal tip 76 of the catheter 72; or ECG-basedconfirmation for confirming the distal tip 76 of the catheter 72 ispositioned at a desired location. The stylet 130 further includes atether 134 proximally extending from a handle 136, the tether 134terminating at a proximal end thereof with a tether connector 132. Thetether connector 132 is configured to mechanically couple andelectrically connect with a fin connector 152 of the tip-location sensor50 as shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments of aconnection system 100.

Additional details for the catheter-placement system 10 shown in FIGS.1-3 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,649,048, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety into this application.

FIG. 4 illustrates the tip-location sensor 50 and the fin connector 152of the catheter-placement system 10 in accordance with some embodiments.As shown, the fin connector 152 is disposed on the tip-location sensor50 of the catheter-placement system 10. Again, the tether connector 132is configured to mechanically couple and electrically connect with thefin connector 152, which enables the catheter-placement system 10 totrack the distal tip 76 of the catheter 72. A drape including a steriledrape configured to provide a sterile field about the patient 70 can beinterposed between the tip-location sensor 50 (e.g., under the steriledrape in a non-sterile field) and the stylet 130 (e.g., over the steriledrape in the sterile field). The tether connector 132 includes apiercing element 170 disposed with a channel 172 (see FIG. 5B) in a bodyof the tether connector 132, wherein the piercing element 170 isconfigured to pierce the drape and insert into a receptacle 160 of thefin connector 152 to electrically connect the tether connector 132 andthe fin connector 152.

As shown in FIG. 4, the catheter-placement system 10, or the connectionsystem 100 thereof, can include one or more LEDs configured to changefrom a first state to a second state to indicate success in forming oneor more electrical connections between the tether connector 132 and thefin connector 152. The one or more LEDs can include an LED 182 on thetip-location sensor 50, an LED 184 on the tether connector 132, or bothof the foregoing LEDs. Upon success in forming the one or moreelectrical connections between the tether connector 132 and the finconnector 152, each LED of the one or more LEDs can change from a firststate of being off to a second state of being on, a first state of beingone color (e.g., red) to a second state of being another color (e.g.,green), a first state of blinking light to a second state of a solidlight, or various combinations thereof. Each LED of the one or more LEDsis configured to change from the first state to the second state uponcompletion of a dedicated LED circuit for the change of state uponforming the one or more electrical connections. The LED 362 isconfigured to be bright enough to see through a drape, thus enabling aclinician to see the indicator 362 even when the drape is in place.

In view of the foregoing catheter-placement system 10, the connectionsystem 100 includes a first connector such as the tether connector 132and a second connector such as the fin connector 152 configured formechanically coupling and establishing one or more electricalconnections through a sterile drape without compromising the sterilefield set up by the sterile drape. Having described the connectionsystem 100 in the context of the catheter-placement system 10,additional details for the first connector and the second connector ofthe connection system 100 will now be described. For convenience, thefirst connector and the second connector of the connection system 100will now respectively assume the reference numerals 132 and 152.

FIG. 5A illustrates a top side of the first connector 132 of theconnection system 100, and FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom side of thefirst connector 132 of the connection system 100 in accordance with someembodiments. Reference is again made to FIG. 4, which illustrates thesecond connector 152 of the connection system 100 in accordance withsome embodiments.

With respect to mechanically coupling the first connector and the secondconnector, the first connector 132 and the second connector 152 caninclude interlocking elements for interlocking with each other. Thefirst connector 132 can include an alignment protrusion 140, while thesecond connector 152 can include an alignment notch 154 and a channel156. The alignment notch 154 is configured to accept the alignmentprotrusion 140 when the alignment protrusion 140 of the first connector132 is aligned with alignment notch 154 of the second connector 152 theninserted into the second connector 152. The channel 156, which is alonga length of the second connector 152, is configured to allow thealignment protrusion 140 to slide along the channel 156. While notshown, the first connector 132 and the second connector 152 can havesymmetric interlocking elements similar to the foregoing interlockingelements. For example, the first connector 132 can have a pair ofalignment protrusions, while the second connector 152 can include acomplementary pair of alignment notches and channels. While a drape isnot show in FIG. 4, when a drape is interposed between the firstconnector 132 and the second connector 152, inserting the firstconnector 132 into the second connector 152 also draws and tightens thedrape around the second connector 152, as well as secures the drapearound the second connector 152 with the first connector 132. Thealignment protrusion 140 of the first connector 132 and the alignmentnotch 154 and channel 156 of the second connector 152 are parts of aone-handed mechanism by which the first connector 132 and the secondconnector 152 are mechanically coupled for establishing the one or moreelectrical connections, which has the added benefit of tightening thedrape between the first connector 132 and the second connector 152without bunching the drape.

The one-handed mechanism for mechanically coupling the first connector132 and the second connector 152 is facilitated by one or moreadditional features of the first connector 132 or the second connector152. In an example, the first connector 132 can be transparent, whichallows a connection between the first connector 132 and the secondconnector 152 to be viewed while the connection is being made by theone-handed mechanism. In another example, the first connector 132 caninclude a pair of finger pads 142 about a distal-end portion of thefirst connector 132. As shown, the pair of finger pads 142 is orthogonalto a longitudinal centerline of the first connector 132, thereby forminga ‘T’ shape with a body of the first connector 132. The pair of fingerpads 142 is configured for pushing or pulling the first connector 132along the second connector 152 with one or more fingers in accordancewith the one-handed mechanism. Advantageously, the pair of finger pads142 obviates compression of a medial portion of the first connector 132resulting from pinching the medial portion, which compression can makeit difficult to dispose the first connector 132 over the secondconnector 152 and subsequently slide the first connector 132 along thesecond connector 152.

Like the first connector 132, the second connector 152 can include apair of tabs 158 orthogonal to a longitudinal centerline of the secondconnector 152 forming a ‘T’ shape with a body of the second connector152. The pair of tabs 158 is configured to provide an additional pointof leverage, if needed, when pushing or pulling the first connector 132along the second connector 152 in accordance with the one-handedmechanism. For example, once the first connector 132 is inserted orotherwise seated in the second connector 152, a clinician can disposehis or her thumb behind the pair of tabs 158 and his or her index andmiddle fingers respectively behind a first and second tab of the pair offinger pads 142 and subsequently draw the first connector 132 and thesecond connector 152 together in a clamping motion. Depending upon theclinician's orientation, the clinician can use the same clamping motionwith his or her thumb behind the first or second tab of the pair offinger pads 142 and his or her index and middle fingers respectivelybehind a first and second tab of the pair of tabs 158 and subsequentlydraw the first connector 132 and the second connector 152 together. Thepair of tabs 158 is also configured to provide a palpable stop (underthe drape) for the first connector 132, if needed, when pushing orpulling the first connector 132 along the second connector 152 inaccordance with the one-handed mechanism.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate different piercing elements of the firstconnector 132 in accordance with some embodiments. The first connector132 includes at least a first piercing element 170 (see FIG. 5B)configured to pierce a drape interposed between the second connector 152(e.g., under a sterile drape in a non-sterile field) and the firstconnector 132 (e.g., over the sterile drape in a sterile field) such aspierce the drape from a sterile side of the drape. The first piercingelement 170 has one or more electrical contacts. The second connector152 includes a first receptacle such as the receptacle 160 (see FIG. 4)configured to receive the first piercing element 170 when inserted inthe first receptacle. The first receptacle has one or more electricalcontacts configured to form at least a first electrical connection ofone or more electrical connections with the first connector 132 when thefirst piercing element 170 is inserted in the first receptacle.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the first piercing element 170 can be a jack plug670A configured to make one or more electrical connections uponinsertion into a complementary jack as the first receptacle (e.g., thereceptacle 160) of the second connector 152. The jack plug 670A can be atip-sleeve (“TS”) jack plug with a needle-like tip electrical contactand a sleeve electrical contact. The jack plug 670A can be atip-ring-sleeve (“TRnS”) jack plug with a needle-like tip, n ringelectrical contacts with n≥1 (N), and a sleeve electrical contact. Forexample, the jack plug 670A of FIG. 6A is a TRRS jack plug having aneedle-like tip electrical contact, two ring electrical contacts, and asleeve electrical contact.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the first piercing element 170 can be a blade-likepiercing element 670B of an end portion of a printed circuit boardhaving the one or more electrical contacts thereon. The blade-likepiercing element 670B and the one or more electrical contacts thereonare configured to respectively make one or more electrical connectionsupon insertion into a complementary slot of the second connector 152configured as the first receptacle (e.g., the receptacle 160). FIG. 7illustrates the blade-like piercing element 670B of the first connector132 configured to insert into a slot-shaped receptacle of the secondconnector 152. Each additional electrical contact on the printed circuitboard can be configured to support an additional communication channelfor data transfer between the first connector 132 and the secondconnector 152.

The first piercing element 170 can be accompanied by a second piercingelement, a third piercing element, or even more piercing elements asshown in FIG. 6C by a plurality of piercing elements 670C. Each piercingelement of the piercing elements 670C includes one or more electricalcontacts. If the plurality of piercing elements 670C includes twopiercing elements, a first piercing element (e.g., the piercing element170) of the two piercing elements is configured to pierce a drape in afirst location, and a second piercing element of the two piercingelements is configured to pierce the drape in a second locationdifferent than the first location. Likewise, if the plurality ofpiercing elements 670C includes three piercing elements, a firstpiercing element (e.g., the piercing element 170) of the three piercingelements is configured to pierce a drape in a first location, a secondpiercing element of the three piercing elements is configured to piercethe drape in a second location different than the first location, and athird piercing element of the three piercing elements is configured topierce the drape in a third location different than the first and secondlocations. Each additional piercing element such as the foregoing secondand third piercing elements can be configured to support an additionalcommunication channel for data transfer between the first connector 132and the second connector 152.

Again, each piercing element of the piercing elements 670C includes oneor more electrical contacts. For each piercing element, the secondconnector 152 includes a complementary receptacle of a plurality ofreceptacles having one or more corresponding electrical contacts. Assuch, a first receptacle of the plurality or receptacles is configuredto form a first electrical connection of one or more electricalconnections when the first piercing element is inserted in the firstreceptacle, a second receptacle of the plurality or receptacles isconfigured to form a second electrical connection of the one or moreelectrical connections when the second piercing element is inserted inthe second receptacle, a third receptacle of the plurality orreceptacles is configured to form a third electrical connection of theone or more electrical connections when the third piercing element isinserted in the third receptacle, and so on. FIG. 8 illustrates theplurality of piercing elements 670C of the first connector 132configured to insert into a plurality of receptacles of the secondconnector 152.

FIG. 9A illustrates the first connector 132 including a drape seal 934in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 9B illustrates a cross-sectionof the first connector 132 including the drape seal 934. FIG. 9Cillustrates a scored drape seal 936 in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown, the connection system 100 can further include the drape seal934, which is configured to adhere to a drape about one or morepiercings in the drape respectively by one or more piercing elements.The drape seal 934 is configured as a sticker with adhesive on at leastits distal face (e.g., adhesive over the entire distal face, adhesivearound a perimeter of the distal face, etc.) disposed within the firstconnector 132 around a proximal-end portion of the piercing element 170,670A, 670B or the plurality of piercing elements 670C. The drape seal934 can be any shape including the disk shape shown in FIGS. 9A-9C. Thedrape seal 934 is a self-sealing polymer septum, the polymer including,but not limited to, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicon rubber,polytetrafluoroethylene, or a combination thereof. The compressivenature of the self-sealing polymer septum around the proximal-endportion of the piercing element 170, 670A, 670B or the plurality ofpiercing elements 670C holds the drape seal 934 in place in the firstconnector 132 until the drape seal 934 is pulled away from the firstconnector 132. Upon mechanically coupling and electrically connectingthe first connector 132 and the second connector 152 with a drapeinterposed therebetween, the distal face of the drape seal 934 adheresto the drape about the one or more piercings. The drape seal 934 isconfigured to remain adhered to the drape and selectively pull away fromthe first connector 132 when the first connector 132 and the secondconnector 152 are disconnected, thereby sealing the drape. Thus, thedrape seal 934 preserves the sterile field provided by the drape upondisconnection of the connection system 100.

Instead of the drape seal 934, the scored drape seal 936 can be used.The scored drape seal 936 is like the drape seal 934, but the scoreddrape seal 936 includes a score 937 configured to allow the piercingelement 170, 670A, 670B or the plurality of piercing elements 670Ctherethrough. Such a score can be advantageous when the piercing element670B or the plurality of piercing elements 670C is present in the firstconnector 132. This is because the foregoing piercing elements have moresurface area than either the piercing element 170 or the piercingelement 670A. The greater the surface area of the piercing element, thegreater the resistance to pulling the drape seal from its position aboutthe piercing element. Thus, without the score 937 in certainembodiments, the adhesive or the drape itself might not be strong enoughto pull the piercing element from its position about the piercingelement.

A method of establishing one or more electrical connections through adrape with the connection system 100 includes placing the drape over thesecond connector 152; aligning the alignment protrusion 140 (or the pairof alignment protrusions) within a distal-end portion of the firstconnector 136 with the alignment notch 154 (or the pair of alignmentnotches) in a medial portion of the second connector 152; disposing thefirst connector 136 over the second connector 152 with the drapeinterposed between the first connector 136 and the second connector 152,the drape self-tightening over the second connector 152 while disposingthe first connector 136 over the second connector 152; sliding thealignment protrusion 140 (or the pair of alignment protrusions) of thefirst connector 136 along the channel 156 (or the pair of channels) withthe drape between the alignment protrusion 140 (or the pair of alignmentprotrusions) and the channel 156 (or the pair of channels); piercing asterile side of the drape with the piercing element 170, 670A, 670B (orthe piercing elements 670C) of the first connector 136, the piercingelement 170, 670A, 670B (or the piercing elements 670C) having one ormore electrical contacts; inserting the piercing element 170, 670A, 670B(or the piercing elements 670C) into the receptacle 160 of the secondconnector 152, the receptacle 160 having one or more electricalcontacts; and forming the one or more electrical connectionsrespectively between the one or more electrical contacts of the piercingelement 170, 670A, 670B (or the piercing elements 670C) and the one ormore electrical contacts of the receptacle 160.

The method can further include viewing the disposing of the firstconnector 136 over the second connector 152 and the sliding of the firstconnector 136 along the second connector 152 through the first connector136, wherein the first connector 132 is transparent for the viewingthrough the first connector 136.

The method can further include sealing the drape with the drape seal934, 936, wherein the drape seal 934, 936 is a self-sealing polymerseptum disposed within the first connector 136 around a proximal-endportion of the piercing element the piercing element 170, 670A, 670B (orthe piercing elements 670C).

The method can further include confirming success in forming the one ormore electrical connections by a change from a first state of the LED184 on the first connector 132 to a second state of the LED 184 uponforming the one or more electrical connections.

While some particular embodiments have been disclosed herein, and whilethe particular embodiments have been disclosed in some detail, it is notthe intention for the particular embodiments to limit the scope of theconcepts provided herein. Additional adaptations and/or modificationscan appear to those of ordinary skill in the art, and, in broaderaspects, these adaptations and/or modifications are encompassed as well.Accordingly, departures may be made from the particular embodimentsdisclosed herein without departing from the scope of the conceptsprovided herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connection system for establishing one or moreelectrical connections through a drape, the connection systemcomprising: a first connector including: an alignment protrusion; and afirst piercing element having one or more electrical contacts, the firstpiercing element configured to pierce the drape; and a second connectorincluding: an alignment notch configured to accept the alignmentprotrusion; a channel along a length of the second connector configuredto allow the alignment protrusion to slide along the channel, wherein:the alignment notch is positioned above the channel, and alignment ofthe alignment protrusion of the first connector with the alignment notchof the second connector enables movement of the alignment protrusiondown through the alignment notch and into the channel; and a firstreceptacle having one or more electrical contacts configured to form atleast a first electrical connection of the one or more electricalconnections with the first connector when the first piercing element isinserted in the first receptacle.
 2. The connection system of claim 1,wherein the first piercing element is a jack plug having a needle-liketip electrical contact, one or more ring electrical contacts, and asleeve electrical contact, and the first receptacle is a jack havingcomplementary electrical contacts.
 3. The connection system of claim 1,wherein the first piercing element is a blade-like end portion of aprinted circuit board having the one or more electrical contactsthereon, and the first receptacle is a slot having complementaryelectrical contacts.
 4. The connection system of claim 1, furthercomprising a seal configured as a sticker disposed within the firstconnector around a proximal-end portion of the piercing element, thesticker configured to adhere to the drape about a piercing thereof andselectively pull away from the first connector when the first connectorand the second connector are disconnected, thereby sealing the drape. 5.The connection system of claim 4, wherein the seal is a self-sealingpolymer septum.
 6. The connection system of claim 1, further comprising:a second piercing element of the first connector having one or moreelectrical contacts, the second piercing element configured to piercethe drape in a location different than the first piercing element; asecond receptacle of the second connector having one or more electricalcontacts configured to form at least a second electrical connection ofthe one or more electrical connections with the first connector when thesecond piercing element is inserted in the second receptacle.
 7. Theconnection system of claim 6, further comprising: a third piercingelement of the first connector having one or more electrical contacts,the third piercing element configured to pierce the drape in a locationdifferent than the first and second piercing elements; a thirdreceptacle of the second connector having one or more electricalcontacts configured to form at least a third electrical connection ofthe one or more electrical connections with the first connector when thethird piercing element is inserted in the third receptacle.
 8. Theconnection system of claim 7, further comprising a seal configured as asticker disposed within the first connector around proximal-end portionsof the piercing elements, the sticker configured to adhere to the drapeabout piercings thereof and selectively pull away from the firstconnector when the first connector and the second connector aredisconnected, thereby sealing the drape.
 9. The connection system ofclaim 8, wherein the seal is a self-sealing polymer septum.
 10. Theconnection system of claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting diode(“LED”) on the first connector configured to change from a first stateto a second state to indicate success in forming the one or moreelectrical connections.
 11. The connection system of claim 10, whereinthe LED is configured to change from the first state to the second stateupon completion of a dedicated LED circuit when forming the one or moreelectrical connections.
 12. The connection system of claim 1, whereinthe first connector includes a pair of finger pads about a distal-endportion of the first connector configured for pushing or pulling thefirst connector along the channel of the second connector.
 13. Theconnection system of claim 1, wherein the alignment protrusion of thefirst connector and the alignment notch and channel of the secondconnector are parts of a one-handed mechanism by which the firstconnector and the second connector are connected to form the one or moreelectrical connections, the one-handed mechanism configured to tightenthe drape between the first connector and the second connector withoutbunching the drape.
 14. The connection system of claim 13, wherein thefirst connector is transparent, thereby allowing a connection betweenthe first connector and the second connector by way of the one-handedmechanism to be viewed.
 15. A connection system for establishing one ormore electrical connections through a drape, the connection systemcomprising: a tether connector coupled to a stylet configured to beremovably disposed in a catheter, the tether connector including: a pairof alignment protrusions within a distal-end portion of the tetherconnector; and a piercing element having one or more electricalcontacts, the piercing element configured to pierce the drape from asterile side of the drape; and a fin connector of a tip-location sensorconfigured to sense a location of a tip of the catheter, the finconnector including: a pair of alignment notches in a medial portion ofthe fin connector configured to accept the pair of alignmentprotrusions; a pair of channels extending along a length of the finconnector and configured to allow the pair of alignment protrusions toslide along the pair of channels with the drape between the pair ofalignment protrusions and the pair of channels, the pair of alignmentprotrusions of the tether connector and the pair of alignment notchesand the pair of channels being parts of a one-handed drape-tighteningmechanism by which the tether connector and the fin connector areconnected to form the one or more electrical connections, wherein: thepair of alignment notches are positioned above the pair of channels, andalignment of the pair of alignment protrusions of the tether connectorwith the pair of alignment notches of the fin connector enables movementof the pair of alignment protrusions down through the pair of alignmentnotches and into the pair of channels; and a receptacle having one ormore electrical contacts configured to form one or more electricalconnections with the one or more electrical contacts of the tetherconnector when the piercing element is inserted in the receptacle. 16.The connection system of claim 15, wherein the piercing element is ajack plug having a needle-like tip electrical contact, one or more ringelectrical contacts, and a sleeve electrical contact, and the receptacleis a jack having complementary electrical contacts.
 17. The connectionsystem of claim 15, wherein the piercing element is a blade-like endportion of a printed circuit board having the one or more electricalcontacts thereon, and the receptacle is a slot having complementaryelectrical contacts.
 18. The connection system of claim 15, furthercomprising a self-sealing polymer septum configured as a stickerdisposed within the tether connector around a proximal-end portion ofthe piercing element, the sticker configured to adhere to the drapeabout a piercing thereof and selectively pull away from the tetherconnector when the tether connector and the fin connector aredisconnected, thereby sealing the drape.
 19. The connection system ofclaim 15, further comprising a light-emitting diode (“LED”) on thetether connector and a dedicated LED circuit, the LED configured tochange from a first state to a second state upon completion of thededicated LED circuit when forming the one or more electricalconnections, thereby indicating success in forming the one or moreelectrical connections.
 20. The connection system of claim 15, whereinthe tether connector includes a pair of finger pads about a distal-endportion of the tether connector configured for pushing or pulling thetether connector along the pair of channels of the fin connector.